Adrian Santana

Brazilian filmaker and fine artist Adrian Santana shows his go to spots in Rio de Janeiro, which he describes as 'purgatório da beleza E do caos...' -- a purgatory between beauty and chaos. Follow on for his favourite spots to escape and embrace the chaos, from waterfalls, the best surf spots and places to eat.

Brazil

São Paulo is not only Brazil’s largest city, but also one of the world’s most populous metropolises. Home to over 20 million people, the city stands apart from beachside Rio and shouldn't be compared to it—São Paulo a force in its own right. With a vast array of eateries, from top-notch restaurants to delicious street snacks, an exciting underground club scene and world-class galleries, São Paulo has plenty to explore.

It’s the perfect base—nestled between breathtaking beaches and rolling mountains, both just a quick one-hour drive if you need a break from the city buzz. Any visit to Brazil should definitely include a few days in one of South America’s most fascinating urban destinations.

What's The Deal On

Into the Drizzle Land, discover São Paulo like never before

Intro

Cultural History

Hoods

Food and Drink

Drugs

Race

Being Queer in São Paulo

The city that (almost) never sleeps: where to stay in SP

Where To Stay 

Etiquette and Cultural Values 

Solo travel

Civil or Military? Inside the police situation

The Police

Safety

Division and rage defines the political situation in SP

Political Situation

Spots

Best Food Spots in São Paulo

Guides

Local Guides From Our Community 

Key Events

Explore São Paulo

Features

The World's Biggest Pride

São Paulo

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Very delicious food that is located in a very interesting and beautiful part of the city, Santa Teresa

Rio de Janeiro

Restaurant

Sobrenatura

A place that can be very romantic and a lot of hidden secrets around the temple.

Park

Parque Lage

When passing Barra da Tijuca there is a reserve by the beach. You have to go by car and when good swell picks up it produces very strong and clean waves in the early morning

Viewpoint

Beach

Recreio

A very good place to see the sunset throughout the year, but especially during Summer.

Pedra de Arpoador

Very good waves to surf, but tough when crowded.

Surf Spot

Arpoador

This place is filled with amazing locals, who are friendly and are stoked on life. It has a large beach to do whatever you want and the waves are one of the best in Rio de Janeiro.

Sanca, Praia da Gávea

In a tricky location so best to follow directions online.

Waterfall

Cachoeira das Almas

Best sandwiches and acai. They have several locations.

Bibi Sucos

Ana Clara Watanabe is a Brazilian visual artist, fashion designer and curator of a vintage furniture store. Born and raised in a small city called Pindamonhangaba, she moved to São Paulo to study Fashion Design in 2016 and has been living there ever since.

Recently moving to Bompton Retiro, Ana describes the São Paulo neighbourhood as ‘one of the coolest’ in the city.

“I recently moved there and I instantly felt in love with the place, the energy, the people… Bom Retiro is a neighbourhood that has traditionally been immigrants’ first stop in the city. In the 1960s, Orthodox Jews were the neighbourhood’s main residents. Koreans comprised the next wave and now Bolivians. So it’s crazy because you’re walking down the streets and you suddenly hear someone speaking in Korean, then in Spanish, then in Portuguese. It’s also funny ‘cause sometimes you go get a coffee and you find a traditional Korean bakery and you have no idea from what that really cute sweet is made.”

From fashion to gastronomy, you can find and do anything at Bom Retiro, spending short money and having a little good time in the neighbourhood. Check out Ana’s favourite spots:

Pinacoteca de São Paulo is a museum dedicated to Brazilian Visual Art. With an emphasis on Brazilian production from the nineteenth century to the present day, the place also dialogue with the cultures of the world by collecting, studying, preserving, exhibiting and communicating its collections to promote the public’s experience with art, stimulate creativity and the construction of knowledge. Founded in 1905 by the São Paulo State Government, it is the city’s oldest art museum.

SESC is a non-profit Brazilian private institution that makes available Education, Health, Culture and Recreational programs and events and well as provides Social Assistance to workers and their dependents. Since its foundation, Sesc has contributed to socioeconomic and cultural development in Brazil through social and educational actions and a wide variety of services that encourage the exercise of citizenship.

At SESC you can do anything for a really affordable price. You can have a good meal, visit a nice exhibition or even watch a special concert for a R$10. Some SESC's in São Paulo have pools, gyms and a few activities for you and your family/friends.

Casa do Povo means “house of people” and that’s literally what they are. It’s a place that provides many cultural activities for those who can afford. You can find there sewing classes, social activities like Empreendedoras Sin Fronteras, choral, dance lessons, meetings and a really comfortable place to spend the afternoon learning, listening and meeting nice people.

The old building of the "Sorocabana Railroad" is now "Sala São Paulo", home of the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra and one of the most important concert and event venues in the country.

Designed by Christiano Stockler das Neves in 1925 ―a period when the city, stimulated by coffee and the railway, was growing at a fast pace― the building, marked by the sobriety of the ornaments and details of the Louis XVI style, would only be completed in 1938, when the urbanization of São Paulo was already characterized by the presence of automobiles, minimizing the use of trams and trains.

One of my dearest friends once told me about this place where a couple of Korean immigrants serves their traditional family recipes. They don’t speak Portuguese very well, but the place, their energy and the food makes you feel like home.

Good price and one of the best Korean foods that I ever tried. Really worth it to visit and it’s also located near to the best fabrics and trims stores! They don’t have a website, but you can get more infos at their Instagram page.

José Paulino is a famous fashion street where you can find clothes and accessories from several different brands and designers. It’s a street where you can visit a fancy shop, a shop that has another 10 shops inside of it, buy clothes on the streets... It’s really worth it the visit ‘cause you can find anything there, meet brands that you may never heard about but with well-made pieces, clothes for a popular price, things that are trending right now…

This part of the town has already suffered a lot of “bad judgments” ‘cause a lot of immigrants work in this part of town in bad conditions, so be careful and ask from where and how that piece was made.

If you’re looking for a good meal in a good and beautiful restaurant, here’s your place. Darê is one of the best Korean cuisines that I ever tried, and they have two options: the first one, where you serve yourself at a table with cold and hot Korean food; and the second and “fancy” one, where you can check their menu with more different options.

The Chef Paulo Shin revisited the mix between the traditional and the modern Korean Cuisine. “We privilege the cozy and casual experience, with the commitment to bring a meal with the care of the production taught by Dona Myung (Paulo’s mom), the flavor that refers to the Korean roots and the experiences of different refinements.

Similar Guides

Ana's Guide to Bom Retiro

Kevin David is a creative entrepreneur, born in the favela of Sapé, in the West Zone of São Paulo. He is self-taught: he began his career early working in the administrative area of Itaú Bank, while also working in film production sectors as an assistant director and executive producer. Alongside this, Kevin cofounded MOOC a Black-run creative agency that has directed projects for brands and artists from Converse to Mano Brown.

In addition to being an entrepreneur, he is a Designer, Creative Director, Executive Producer with 100% black encompassing work that connects culture and community, contributing to the process of accelerating access and opportunities in the advertising industry for black professionals. Scroll down to check out Kevin's favourite places in Sao Paulo.

Bar da Bete is the best place to warm up before heading to your favorite party.


If you are in the centre, you must go for a beer with a group of 20 friends.

If you are an LGBTQIAP+ person you have an obligation to live in the zig. a gay nightclub in the basement with pop music, darkroom and gay cruising.

Imagine a funk party in Brazil? now imagine an LGBTQIA+ funk party in brazil, where the G, the T and the L dominate everything. That's it, just living to see.


If you are looking for a more cozy place, where you can spend the afternoon with friends and still listen to some music, then lote sp is the place.

As a fan and lover of Hip-Hop culture, I find everything here, ribbed tank tops, jewellery, sneakers, t-shirt prints - the rock gallery is a good option for those who want to spend their evening lookinging and don't have time to adventure so much, as there are several floors with wonderful curatorship. 

I cut my hair for 15 years in the same place with your rodriguez. If you're looking for a ruler cut, this is the place.

My favorite food in São Paulo is here: a dish made of pot roast and carrot cake dessert is what I eat the most.


This is where I find all my fashion and culture magazines.

The Creative Underbelly of Sao Paulo with Kevin David

Whether you are a fan of Sunday afternoon strolls with a fresh fruit gelato in hand; a late-night underground jazz experience in a historical city centre spot; an explosion of flavours from all around the globe and gastronomic options for all likings at any given time of the day; decolonizing art galleries, museums, bookshops, and exhibitions; a vibrant, ever-changing, slightly chaotic but very welcoming urban scene – or all of the above – São Paulo is certainly the destiny you still did not know you needed to visit.

Brazil is a factory of great artists. A lot of people don’t know but Brazil is one of the countries with the highest production of musicals in the world. Shows happened all the time throughout the whole country. Hundreds of music festivals are organized every year. All that without mentioning the bars and show venues that are always bringing national and international talent to perform. A market that grows every day, both in variety and in quality." - Fernando

Hailing from São Paulo, Fernando Rosa is a musical influencer and is considered one of the world's greatest bassists. With influences ranging from soul and jazz, to traditional Brazilian music, Fernando has a deep knowledge and feel for groove. He is respected and admired by great starts of global music, having over 20 years of experience. Nowadays, he is an artist that takes to the stages great hits of Pop, Funk and Disco music.

Great sound quality and a diverse artistic programming.

A nice option that always brings to the stage great names of music.

Located in the center of São Paulo. The programming presents new names from the jazz scene of the city.

Besides having a beautiful green area, it has a wonderful cultural programming.


A great place to walk around. Car circulation is closed there during the Sundays. A variety of street artists present there, along with fairs and outdoors expositions.

Restaurant with excellent food. For those who enjoy vegan food without giving up on flavor.

Rio with Adrian Santana

Rio with Adrian Santana